Reema Faris explores the intersection of popular culture and gender through teaching and research

What can romance novels — and the women who read them — tell us about feminism today? In her thesis, Reema Faris (PhD, 2024), asks this question and found that ‘Happily Ever After’ or ‘Happy For Now’ narratives are more complex than they appear on the surface, and more influential than we may assume.

A passionate educator, Faris often integrates media into her interactive approach to teaching. By discussing and analyzing the stories we tell, Faris aims to empower her students to bring about change.

Faris answered our questions about her experiences, as both a graduate student and instructor, in the Department of Gender Sexuality, and Women’s Studies at Simon Fraser University (SFU).

What were you doing before you started your PhD?

After various careers and zigzagging through life — working in the public and private sectors, primarily in communications and marketing — I returned to academia to complete a Masters in Graduate Liberal Studies (GLS). Being in that program allowed me to start work as a teaching assistant. With my first posting, I was hooked. I had finally found the environment that resonated most deeply with who I am and how I see myself in the world.

Why did you decide to pursue a doctorate in GSWS? What attracted you to the program?

Once I decided to pursue a PhD, I considered English, but the opportunity did not materialize. I had all but given up when I met SFU GSWS adjunct faculty Claire Robson, who was facilitating a writing retreat on the Sunshine Coast that I took part in with a friend. She recommended talking to SFU GSWS. Best advice ever! I met with Jen Marchbank, and that set the wheels in motion. I am eternally grateful. I could never have anticipated the breadth of learning and the value of the experience that was about to be mine.

How did you become interested in ‘Happily Ever After’ or ‘Happy For Now’ stories? What is something surprising you learned through your thesis research?

It was such an iterative process. There were news items at the time I applied claiming that feminism was dead, or no longer needed. My initial focus was on exploring how the spectacle of our modern consumerist, celebrity-oriented culture obscures feminism. Then, I veered to look at how women who challenge the constraints of society are often labelled in ways meant to shame, ridicule, and exclude them. These threads morphed into looking at the spectacle of love and romance, and the complicated relationships women readers have with these taken-for-granted human emotions and experiences.

What surprised me is how personal this work turned out to be for me and how it pushed me to reflect so much on my own life. Even more surprising? Realizing that positive representations of single women are remarkably absent from popular culture!

What is your approach as an educator? What are the challenges? What do you enjoy about teaching?

I enjoy learning through dialogue, critical analysis, and reflection, and my approach with the amazing young people I teach is discussion-based and interactive. I integrate various forms of media, and I open the space for students to use their skills, talents, and creativity to produce work that is meaningful and relevant to them.

The biggest challenge is time and anxiety. Studying is often one of many commitments in students’ lives and we live in a time of existential anxiety. However, learning is fundamental to making change, and it is these young folk who will help build a better future.

Do you have a favorite memory or experience from your time at SFU?

My time at SFU has left me with a kaleidoscope of memories. Overall, I am grateful that my SFU journey has given me the opportunity to learn, teach, study, write, and present all in the company of an amazing array of people, friends, colleagues, students, and peers.

Looking back, is there anything you wish you had known when you started your PhD?

Rather than speculating on what I wish I had known, let me share what I’ve learned. Completing a PhD exacts an emotional toll, demands a lot of resources, and requires a lot of focus. I was fortunate. It took me longer than expected, and in the end, it was just right for me!

What is next for you? Do you have any other projects or plans on your horizon?

I am teaching for SFU GSWS through Spring 2025 and I hope to continue teaching, whether in Vancouver or elsewhere. I have also co-edited a collection of essays on the topic of care, which is currently under review. I would also like to investigate turning my dissertation into a book — one writing project among many I hope to tackle.

Do you have any advice to share with potential or current PhD students?

As with any journey in life, there is no one universal experience. The path is different for each person who has the privilege of completing their doctorate. The most important thing is to remember to be caring, kind, open-minded, generous, and inquisitive — and stay humble!